Author: Donna Chandler

FRANCES & JEANNE
HURRICANES OF 2004
By: Donna Hale Chandler

My husband and I were excited to finally retire and move to our little condo in Port St. Lucie.  We had no qualms about leaving Michigan weather behind and were looking forward to sunny winters.  Our trip south to our new home began Labor Day week-end, 2004.

We were floating on clouds as we pulled into Vista St. Lucie where my mother had lived happily for several years.  It had been a long drive and we had lots of boxes to unload and unpack.  Our bodies may have been tired but our minds were still traveling a mile a minute as we saw a new future on our horizon.

As soon as word reached my mother that we had arrived, she was at our door, spitting orders about hurricane supplies that must be gathered right away.  I must admit that I was rather annoyed with her.  After all we had serious boxes of ‘stuff’ to put away before thinking about hurricane supplies.  She seemed determined to dampen our good mood with lists and more lists of what needed to be stocked.

At last we relented and ventured out to the stores for water, batteries, canned food – you know, Hurricane Supplies.  We were sure that we were wasting our time but it made my mother happy so how could we refuse.

During the night of September 5, 2004, Hurricane Francis came screaming ashore.  As power was the first thing we lost we could only listen to the howling wind and pounding rain.  The next morning, it appeared we made moved to hell.  It was hotter than hot.  Helicopters were in the sky watching for looters.  As we moved slowly from day to day, we began to wonder if we’d made a wise decision moving to No Electricity Land. 

We learned a lot as we suffered through the aftermath of Frances.  Not only did we learn how important those Hurricane Supplies were, we learned that you cannot make a cup of coffee over a candle, we learned that MRE’s taste like the Food of the Gods when you’re hungry and of course we learned the importance of water – cold water was in small supply.

About the time the lights came back on and the a/c began to cool our upstairs condo, Hurricane Jeanne came barreling through, throwing us once again into the darkness and the heat.  Once again we were lining up for ice and water from volunteers with the Red Cross and other organizations.  Once again we were checking on neighbors that we’d barely met and instantly bonded with over a cup of coffee boiled on an outdoor grill.

Years later I can look back and laugh at the fact that my mother had to drive me to the water/ice lines as I had no proof of residency.  It became quite a joke that I finally was old enough to retire but not old enough to go out after dark without my mama.  As I look back on these memories both my husband and my mother have passed away but back in 2004 we were quite the team as we stood together again Frances and Jeanne.

I’m not a bad cook.  Really, I am not.  I’m also not a particularly good cook.  It’s not something I enjoy doing.  I cook so we can eat – and we truly do like to eat.  The main problem with cooking is that you really should stay in the kitchen while you have items on the stove.  I can still hear my mother saying, “You can’t cook from the living room.  Get your hind end back into the kitchen before you burn the house down.

My mother now has passed on.  I’m retired and I’ve never burned down the house.  BUT I have exploded a few eggs.  Have you ever put eggs on to boil and then gotten busy elsewhere in the house?  I have (a perfect example of trying to cook from the living room).  When you hear the explosion, you will be back in the kitchen in a flash.

You see, when the water boils away, the eggs will explode.  Yes, they will.  The lid will fly up into the air and eggs shells and over cooked eggs pieces will go EVERWHERE.  You will be cleaning eggs remnants from cupboards, the ceiling, and of course the stove for several weeks.

I’m sure you’re wondering how I know this or you may have correctly guessed that I have actually experienced this explosion first hand.  To make life extra interesting, I have done this not once, not even twice, but THREE TIMES I have rushed to the scene of exploding eggs. 

Moral of the story:  Listen to your mother.

********

Gram use’ta say

Dick and I have been at our computers every morning for months writing, correcting, and then writing some more.  Somedays the ideas flow so quickly that it’s difficult to get them down on paper.  Other days, a blank screen seems to be mocking our efforts.  All the starts and stops are worth it though, when the finished product is sent off to the printer.  Even then our minds fill with thoughts of changes that we could have made. 

Our most recent writings have finally come together, gone to the printer, and we’ve been able to hold the finished book in our hands………PAPPY’S GOLD is the 6^th of The Crows series and we know you will enjoy it even if you haven’t read the first six.  As a matter of fact, each book in the series could easily be a stand-alone book with its own excitement and piece of history.

PAPPY’S GOLD is the story of Thomas Adams, who later is given the nickname Pappy.  He becomes orphaned at the age of 16 and, lying his age, joins the confederacy to fight in the civil war.  During this time of killing or be killed, Thomas leaves his youth behind and faces hard truths about adulthood. When the war finally ends, he returns to his burned-out ranch to try to rescue not only the property but also himself.  Secretly marrying, causes his father-in-law to threaten imprisonment for rape and forces him to turn his ranch over to his bride and quickly leave the area.  This leads to discovering his gold mine and, 17 years later, to his partnering up with Vern Johnson, who convinces him to write to his long-lost wife.  After re-connecting with her, they’ll will sell their gold mine, later joining together to turn Vern’s cattle ranch into a successful operation.

The book contains a rags-to-riches story, gold mining failures and success, injury and healing, war, love, friends and foes.  It is now available on Amazon.com in paperback or e-book.  You can also purchase a signed copy here on our blog by going to our BOOKS page.  Once you’ve read the book, please let us know what you think, leave a review on Amazon and follow us for more interesting articles and more exciting books.   

  

*********

Gram use’ta say

Be tolerant of others but don’t allow yourself to be used as a doormat